Lewis joined the team as a Junior Designer in 2016 and has been making our ears bleed ever since. If you like inflicting audible pain on your colleagues, check out his tips on being the Office DJ!

Rather than offer you a handful of savvy designer insights or advice, I was encouraged by my peers to write about the Office Politics of Playing Music in the Workplace.

Being one of only two people in the team who has a premium Spotify account, naturally I get given the minefield task of being studio DJ most days. Although I try to keep everyone happy with songs they’re familiar with, there’s only so many times you can play Billy Ocean without wanting to set fire to yourself.

With this in mind, I’ve been told that the power of my newfound role is starting to get to my head as I have a tendency to veer off into playing artists that are more tailored to my taste. Admittedly, this is the case, but as an avid gig goer who always has their finger over the new music pulse, I can’t resist the urge to slip in a few newbies to the daily mix but ALWAYS in consideration of the ears around me (!)

Yet however thoughtful I think my song choices are, you can’t satisfy everyone, not completely at least. But through trial and error I’ve sussed out where the musical boundaries lie and have developed a sweet spot of go-to artists that everyone here at Huw David Design is on board with.

If you’re like me and constantly on the search for new music to obsess over, or in desperate need of sprucing up your music listening habits that happens to be office radio friendly, then look no further!

I’ve compiled a playlist of lesser-known infectiously catchy singles that are played on a regular basis here at HDD. Hit play on this bad boy and prepare to blow your colleague's minds!

If you’d like to talk tunes with Lewis (for some reason?!) you can contact him at Lewis@huwdavid.net

Katie recently joined the HDD Team as a Freelancer and got stuck in as soon as she arrived. Her experience working within agencies has been a massive benefit to the studio and luckily for you, she’s sharing her wisdom as a very special Christmas treat!

After graduating Falmouth Uni 2 years ago with a degree in Graphic Design, I can remember feeling daunted at the prospect of being thrown into the big bad world of graphic design. But before I knew it, I was lucky enough to bag myself a few placements in various agencies around the country such as Cornwall, London, Bath and back home, in Cardiff.

It was after about 6 months of being in and out of agencies on placements that I found myself doing freelance work, and I’ve been doing it ever since. Although I’ve only been freelancing for a year and a half, I’ve learnt a lot in a short space of time...

1.Be Brave

Initially, it’s quite scary going alone in the design world, but I’ve learnt it’s important to take risks and believe in yourself. Step out of your comfort zone - you’ll appreciate the fact you did and pat yourself on the back.

2.Meet Face to Face

I really recommend getting out there and meeting people face-to-face, the old fashioned way. It’s so important to make personal connections, not just with potential clients but with other people within the graphic design industry.

3.Keep in TouchI definitely believe that things happen not because of what you know, but of who you know. It was keeping in touch with a senior designer from another agency that lead me to freelancing at Huw David Design.

4.Take BreaksIt’s so easy to just work solidly the whole day without taking a break -whichleads to total creative block (guilty!). You will find that it is difficult to trace even the most common creative element in yourself then. A 20-minute walk to take your eyes off the screen can work wonders to clear your head and get your creative brain refreshed and back on track.

5.Do things you love on the sideAs well as my freelance work, I run an Etsy shop on the side. I find it a great way to stay excited about my graphic design work, keep my entrepreneurial skills sharp, and most importantly - it’s fun!

If you’d like to peruse Katie’s gorgeous Etsy store, you can find it here - or contact her at Katie@huwdavid.net

Selling is not easy – if you're not a salesperson by nature then you cannot force it. Luckily for us, Rob our Account Manager, has been selling ice to eskimos for 135 years and has shared his 5 Ultimate Sales Tips as a Christmas treat for you lucky lot!

1. Is it in You?

You cannot be an artist if it’s not in your soul. Likewise, the skill of being an artist at Sales can be developed, but if the need, drive and hunger are not there in the first place – Just Do Something Else! Remember, there’s nothing more irritating (or worse – embarrassing!) than a Bad Salesperson.

2. Who Shall I Ring Today?

The magic of sourcing prospects – Paul Daniels – it’s definitely NOT magic! It’s all about contacts, guts and balls. Make lists – Start-ups, Recruitment agencies, LinkedIn and generally who knows who. Never be afraid, and always keep your big ears to the ground!

3. Freezing Cold Calls

Baby - it’s cold outside (sometimes inside too). NEVER be embarrassed to call anyone, they’re only human after all! Admittedly some are more welcoming than others, but then hey, that’s where the challenge ignites. NOTHING is more satisfying than turning a No... into a Maybe... or a Yes.

4. First Impressions

Thirty-five years ago, when a mobile needed a wheelbarrow to cart it around and I wore a double breasted suit to meetings, it was expected you turned up in shiny shoes. These rebellious days, loads of experience (and no’s) later, a greyer, more relaxed Me visits new clients with a glint in the eye and a Fist Bump!

5. Sealing the Deal

NEVER be afraid to ask for the job. If you are, don't bother going to the meeting – Faint heart etc. — remember they can only say no! But a NO doesn’t always mean NO, – it means maybe, and a maybe can always be turned into a YES! Remember, the Snail ain’t gonna get the Sale.

If you'd like to chat to Rob about sales (or snails?) you can contact him at Rob@huwdavid.net or 07970861808

Nicci joined the HDD team as Project Manager back in May 2017, and has not stopped cracking the whip ever since. Here are her ultimate tips on getting stuff done!

We’ve all had those days when you’re so busy, you haven’t had a coffee, you’re frantically chipping away at your ever-growing to-do list and god help the next person who asks you a question – well say no more friend, I have 5 new ways for you to increase your productivity!

1. Go on Human Airplane Mode

When I am at my busiest, I literally want to stamp ‘Out of Office’ across my forehead so that nobody bothers me. Believe me, I am the first to chat about what I had for dinner, what’s new on Netflix and who won ‘I’m a Celebrity’ but sometimes you have to nicely but firmly tell your colleagues to leave you alone – or even better, hide in a quiet spot where there are no distractions.

2. Schedule Your Day

Just like scheduling the design studio, there are only so many hours in a day – so I often block out my diary with my MUST-DO tasks. Make sure the most important tasks fall during the hours when you are most productive (for me that’s around 10am, after I’ve had my morning coffee and chat) and stick to the plan!

3. Delegate

How many times have I heard ‘It’s quicker if I just do it myself’? Well it’s definitely not quicker in the long run! Take an extra 10 minutes to show your colleagues how to do something, and not only are you encouraging their development but now you never have to do this task again. Win-win!

4. Be Clear on Priorities

As a Branding Agency, it’s so easy to want to satisfy your client’s needs immediately – but if you’re busy constantly putting out fires, you’ll never get around to the real value-adding tasks that grow the business. In HDD we have a motto of ‘ASAP is not a deadline’ and often ASAP actually means they can wait until tomorrow.

5. You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup

Everyone is so busy all the time, and we take pride in it. But if you’re multitasking, chances are that you’re not giving everything the time it deserves. Focus on one thing at a time, but make sure that one of those things is YOU! Meet friends for lunch, go for a walk and generally do something that is not work related – you will see the benefits tenfold in both your personal and professional life.

If you'd like to hear more about how Nicci keeps a busy studio organised you can contact her at Nicci@huwdavid.net or 01443 237717